Bier



BIER

Filed Aug. 20 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1924. 1,492,998

. C. D. MEEKER BIEH Filed g- 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6,1924.

UNITED STATES 1,492,998 PATENT OFFICE.

CHANNING n. MEEKER, or BEnroRn, onto. v

Application filed August 20, .1923. Serial No. 658,384.

T 0 all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, CHANNING D. MEEKER, citizen of the United States,residing at Bedford, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Biers, of which thefollowing is a. specification.

This invention relates to improvements in biers, having for an objectthe provision of interchangeable panels. which panels may bear asuitable inscription or insignia.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bier composed ofseveral sections so interconnected as to facilitate assemblage andknocking down of the structure.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in art pointed outhereinafter.

11 order that the invention and the manner in which it is used may bereadily understood by persons familiar with the art, I have in theaccompanying drawings, and

in the detailed following description based thereon, set out thepreferred embodiment of the same.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bier in use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bier;

Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the method of interconnecting certainof the sections;

Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view. showing the manner in which thepanels are retained in place; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section showin the manner of engaging the latcheswith t e panels.

Having more particular reference to the drawings in connection withwhich like characters of reference will designate corresponding partsthroughout, the improved bier may be stated as comprising a set of wallsections, each having formed therein an opening 8, which is adapted toreceive a panel 10, said panel being of any preferred configuration andcarrying upon its outer face an inscription, an emblem of a particularfraternal organization or the like. In the latter connection it is wellknown that it is often desired to designate in some manmoulding 9secured tothe bier at the edges of the openings it is understood thatthe stop or shoulder which. the moulding provides, could be formedintegrally with the main structure. A set of pivoted latches or fingers11 serves to retain the panels 10 in their proper places. 1

From the foregoing, it is quite obvious that a set of panels bearingdifferent inscriptions, may be kept in stock, and any of them utilizedaccording to the particular circumstances of the services.

In order to provide a highly satisfactory construction, I have built upthe bier from several sections which may be readily knocked down andpacked in a minimum sized package for storage or shipment. Thisparticular structure consists in hingedly interconnecting end wallsections 1 and the adjacent side sections 3 as at 2, said sections beingof substantially equal lengths.

A third side wall section 4 is adapted to be positioned between theother two side sections 3 and separably connected as shown in Fig. 3.This connection consists in providing at each vertical end of the thirdsection 4, a fiat plate 5 carrying a pair of vertically spaced dependinghooked fingers 6 which are receivable in suitable formed sockets 7provided in the adjacent plate.

It is readily apparent that the end and side sections are first placedin position as indicated in Fig. 2 whereupon the third side section isproperly connected as before stated. The desired panels are secured inthe openings and the bier is ready for use.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of certain modification,and such modification, as iswithin the scope of my claims,

I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A bier having openings in its walls, moulding arranged in a planewith the outer face of the bier wall and secured tothe face of the wallsforming the openings, panels adapted to be removably received in theopenings and to abut the inner face of the moulding and pivoted latchescarried by the bier wall to engage, the inner faces of the panels andretain them in position.

2. A bier comprising an end section and a pair of side sections hingedlyconnected, said side sections having sockets in their free verticaledges, a third side section arranged between the socketed ends of theother side sections, and fingers carried by the opposite vertical edgesof said third section and adapted to be removably received in saidsockets.

3. A bier including side and end walls having horizontally spacedopenings transversely therethrough, a shoulder arranged upon the wallsforming each opening, said shoulder being disposed substantially in aplane with the outer entrance to said opening, panels adapted to bear aninscription and being receivable in the openings, each panel beingarranged in contact with said shoulder, and pivoted latches arrangedupon the inner faces of the Walls to retain the panels in the openings.

4. A bier including side and end walls, one wall having a shoulderedopening, an inscription bearing panel snugly receivable in the openingand pivoted latches arranged to retain the panel in its opening.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

GHANNING D. MEEKER.

